In the first part of this interview, I had a chance to speak with Amy who gave us her insights on aeronautical engineering and her journey leading up to the point where she has reached in her career.
For this second part, I sought to get a local opinion of the same career path just so that you can get a idea of the different routes you can take to get to the same point.
Speaking to yet another brilliant engineer, Esleen gives us valuable insights as to how she navigated through her career in aeronautical engineering.
So first off, tell us how you got into this field. What inspired you to take up aeronautical engineering, and were your friends and family supportive of your decision?
After I completed high school, I wanted a course that combined both Physics and Math. I always knew I wanted to do something that was out of the norm and that pretty much summed it up. My family has always been my biggest supporter and my friends too!
Did you do your training locally or abroad? (If it was done abroad, what was the experience like, and did you have to do any conversion licenses?) Around how much should one expect to put aside to pursue this training?
I trained in Malaysia. My school offered the EASA B1 license exams so I came back home having done a few of those. There was no need to convert because I opted to do the Kenyan license as well. Price ranges differ depending on where you train, but it really is not an expensive course to pursue.
For someone interested in taking up aeronautical engineering, what are the requirements for this academically and what skills have you found to be useful in your line of work?
Physics and Math form the core of this career thus one would not only have to have attained good grades in those two subjects but also have an interest in them. One has to be analytical, disciplined and possess good judgment. It can be challenging in terms of school work, the minimum pass mark for our exams ranges from 70-75% thus discipline is paramount.
Once you finish school as per Kenyan regulations, you have to work for a minimum of 3 years before you're eligible for the KCAA license exams. You then apply to KCAA for the exam. There are the written exams (Air Law, Essay and the specific rating's Multiple Choice Questions), after you pass that, you go on to the skill test. This could take you a year or more to do. After you get your license, you have to train on an aircraft, get the rating or company approval, then you can finally be in a position to release an aircraft to service.
What have been your most challenging experiences from the time you were studying for this to when you started working?
For starters, it was coming back home and trying to break into an industry of which I knew not much of. I knew there was KQ and that's where I wanted to end up but I had no idea where to start.
Second, being a woman in this field means that I have always had to work 10times harder than my male counterparts just to be taken seriously.
And lastly getting the requisite licenses is not a walk in the park. It took a lot of sacrifice and dedication to get those but I'm thankful it all worked out in the end.
Which aircraft are you currently rated on and which one do you like working on?
I'm approved on the Embraer 190 as well as the Boeing 787. Both are great aircraft to work on, but the 787 takes the cup any day.
Just give us a brief glimpse of how a typical work day looks like for you. Are you on duty throughout and what do you do to unwind especially since this job is very involving.
Well, a typical workday looks like this; We work in a shift pattern, so either I'm working the day or the night shift which runs from 6 to 6. If it's a 6am shift, it means that I'm up by 4:30. I get to the airport at around 5:45.
We have an opening meeting where we're assigned to different aircraft and the day begins. I typically work on the 787 till about 2pm then I fall back on the Embraer in the afternoon. We work for 4 days then we have 4 days off, so there is sufficient rest.
What do you love most about your job?
The sense of satisfaction that comes from solving snags and releasing a fully serviceable aircraft to service is unsurpassed.
Are there any crazy experiences you would like to share? ;D
HAHA... off the record :p
Any words of advice for women who really want to take up this line of work?
JUST DO IT!!!!!! If this is what you want, then you want then go for it and don't let anyone make you fell like you're less able just because you're female. There will be challenges along the way and you will get discouraged at times but spur on and be great.
Still on the advice bit, what would you like to say to the upcoming African aeronautical engineer especially since the aviation field is slowly but surely showing promise on our continent with new aircraft such as the A220, A330-900 being introduced in various African countries?
I'd say be open minded, your growth doesn't have to follow a linear path. There are different ways to diversify in this field. Get your KCAA licenses, get your EASA B1 and get the endorsements on your license so that you can broaden your horizons.
Your closing comments with regards to work and also not related to work?
A cliche as it may sound, just hang in there and believe that all things are working for your good. I remember starting out at Wilson, washing the hangar every so often and not seeing where my career was headed. Those were the character building moments that helped me get to where I am now.
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